Chargers primed for title run

The Edison High football program isn’t afraid to set the bar high

regarding what it wants to accomplish during the 2005 season.

Simply put, the Chargers have a main goal of reaching the CIF

Southern Section Division I championship game.

Yes, the season hasn’t even begun yet -- the Chargers open their

season Friday on the island of Oahu against Kamehameha -- and there’s

a lot of football to be played between now and the final weekend of

the regular season in early November. But this Edison edition, which

does possess tested, senior leadership at key positions, does appear

to have no glaring weaknesses.

“No major ones,” said Coach Dave White, who begins his 20th year

at the helm, noting that one minor weakness, possibly, could be a

lack of depth at certain positions.

“Great experience at all positions, good leadership, athletic,

speedy, work ethic, strong, smart and hungry,” are some of the

phrases and words White used to describe his current squad.

“We will challenge for the league title,” White said of the

impending Sunset League race, which begins in mid-October.

He has reason to feel confident.

Edison welcomes back 11 starters and 45 lettermen, and a handful

of those starters earned All-Sunset League laurels in 2004.

It starts in the backfield, where senior quarterback Brian Shrock

is back to direct the offense one more time.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Shrock was the Sunset League Offensive

Player of the Year as a junior, when he threw for 2,350 yards and 20

touchdowns.

He’s within reach of the school record for career passing yardage

(5,213), currently held by Tommy Grady, who is now at the University

of Utah.

“[Shrock] is a three-year starter who is athletic and can run,”

White said.

Other decorated senior returners include: two-way tackle Romney

Fuga (6-2, 270); linebacker Davey Baldwin (6-0, 200), receiver Jimmy

Flanagan (6-1, 185); and defensive end Gabe Moreno (5-9, 200).

Fuga, a first-team all-league performer, was considered the

league’s top lineman a year ago and is a force to be reckoned with on

both sides of the ball. He is a CIF heavyweight wrestling champion

who was fourth in his division at the 2005 state meet.

Baldwin was a top-notch linebacker last year and he, Fuga, Moreno

and senior offensive guard/defensive tackle Chris Talataina -- like

Shrock -- are all three-year varsity starters.

Flanagan led the team last year with 40 receptions and, like

Moreno, was a second-team all-league honoree.

But while everything seems in line on for a big season ahead on

the field, the Edison program suffered an off-the-field tragedy

earlier this summer when Cody Roy, a running back who was heading

into his senior year this fall, was killed in a car accident.

In tribute to their teammate, the Chargers wore their game jerseys

to Roy’s funereal service.

“The team is doing OK,” Fuga said. “It has been a tough summer,

and we’re trying to learn a lesson from his passing.”

Edison definitely will be tested in the nonleague portion of the

season.

In addition to opening against defending Hawaii state champion

Kamehameha, the Chargers face San Clemente, Capistrano Valley,

Servite and Mater Dei, in nonleague play.

They begin their quest for the Sunset League title on Oct. 13 with

a key showdown at Esperanza, which coaches believe will be a serious

contender for the crown.

“We play a very tough schedule,” White said. “Four out of the five

teams we face [in nonleague games] made the playoffs last year. Mater

Dei is the big one.”

When it came to giving an early prognosis of the Sunset League

race, White had three teams in mind.

“Esperanza, Los Alamitos and us,” he said, referring to the teams

he felt will battle for the crown.

It does appear the future is now for Edison: the school’s last

three freshman teams were a combined 29-1 while going 15-0 in league

to earn three straight Sunset titles.

Can the Chargers parlay that into a Sunset title at the varsity

level?

“We’re really looking forward to this year,” White said.

Colors: Green, gold and white.

League: Sunset.

2004 record: 6-5, 2-3 league.

Type of offense: Spread.

Type of defense: Four-three.

Head coach: Dave White (20th year, 135-71-3).

Staff: Fred Marquez (defensive backs); Harry Schmidt (offensive

line); Kyle Murphy (offensive line); Rick Justice (receivers,

linebackers); Eric Resigno (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks);

Brendon Cornell (running backs, defensive backs); Ryan Tombrello

(defensive coordinator, secondary); John Boyer (defensive ends);

Jason Peter (defensive line).

Returning starters: 11.

Returning lettermen: 45.

Returning with honors: QB Brian Shrock; DL Romney Fuga; LB/RB

Davey Baldwin; RB Gabe Moreno; WR/DB Jimmy Flanagan.

2004 results

*--*

34 Servite 9

28 San Clemente 13

29 Capistrano Valley 0

30 Santa Fe 0

14 Mater Dei 20

49 Huntington Beach* 10

24 Los Alamitos* 31

55 Marina* 0

20 Fountain Valley* 21

10 Esperanza* 14

o7CIF Div. I playoffsf7

14 Loyola 28

*--*

2005 schedule

Friday, Sept. 2 -- at Kamehameha , 7

Friday, Sept. 9 -- at San Clemente, 7:30

Friday, Sept. 16 -- Capistrano Valley (at Orange Coast), 7

Friday, Sept. 23 -- Servite (at Huntington Beach), 7

Friday, Sept. 30 -- Mater Dei (at Cal State Fullerton), 7:30.

Thursday, Oct. 13 -- Esperanza* (at Valencia), 7

Friday, Oct. 21 -- at Huntington Beach*, 7

Friday, Oct. 28 -- Los Alamitos* (at Orange Coast), 7

Friday, Nov. 4 -- at Fountain Valley* (at Orange Coast), 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 11 -- Marina* (at Westminster), 7

*denotes league game.